Bypass surgery is used to promote weight loss if you are 100 lbs. overweight or are considered overweight with a medical complication like diabetes by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Understanding what this surgery involves may help you decide whether it is your best option when diet and exercise have failed.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery reduces your stomach to a pouch holding no more than 1/2 cup of food. This is achieved by removing the biggest portion of your stomach and then connecting the lower part of your small intestine to a stoma, a new opening in your pouch.
How Gastric Bypass Creates Weight Loss
The surgery creates weight loss in two ways. First, the size of your stomach has been drastically reduced, thereby creating a reduction in the volume of food you can eat. Second, normally most of your absorption of nutrients takes place in the higher portions of your intestines. When food is rerouted to the jejunum by bypass, less absorption takes place, which means your body absorbs fewer calories.
Benefits
The best benefit of the surgery is losing up to 50 to 60 percent of your weight during the first 18 to 24 months after surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. The American Society of Bariatric Surgery states the surgery can be used to treat medical complications such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and it can relieve sleep apnea and acid reflux disease. You can obtain these benefits by sticking with your meal plan and exercising to promote and maintain your weight loss.
Risks
With benefits come risks. Death is associated with all types of surgery. Infection at your wound site can occur. Leaks from your new pouch can happen and may require more surgery. There is an increased risk in developing blood clots in your legs, and these can travel to your lungs.
Malnutrition is a risk for the rest of your life following surgery. You run the risk of becoming anemic from poor iron and B12 absorption. Calcium and vitamin D deficiencies become a greater risk. Therefore, you will need to take iron, B12, calcium and vitamin D supplements for the rest of your life.
Possible Side Effects
After bypass, dumping syndrome results when you eat too much food or if you eat too rapidly. The jejunum is not used to having large concentrations of food. When this occurs, your intestines are overwhelmed and can't handle the demand, resulting in diarrhea.
Increased gas production can occur. Food particles that pass through your new digestive tract undigested will be a feast for your colonic bacteria. This results in your passing more gas.
Hair loss can occur during your initial weight loss phase. Your hair will come back as your weight loss slows down.
Weight regain can occur after the two-year postoperative period. According to ObeseInfo.com, patients can gain back up to 10 percent of their weight that they have lost.
Weighing In
Gastric bypass surgery does work, but it does alter your life and your body. All benefits, risks and side effects must be considered, as this surgery will bring great joy to your life, but with a cost.
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